Suave Professionals Sleek Conditioner

This would be a great product for someone with coarse or textured hair. It was a little too heavy for my fair hair, but I would definitely recommend this product to someone with more ethnic hair.

My hair was left a bit heavy, but I did read a great review from a (i don't know what is the current non offensive term: black, African-American... this is my attempt to not offend, so sorry if one of those is offensive) during my research. She had great results that made her hair more manageable and gave it more movement without being too heavy and weighing down volume.

I should get Ashley to try this. She is a crazy mutt mix and the Cuban is very prevalent in her coarse thick curly hair. That's her on the left with the very long hair.

Again, I totally recommend this for someone with more textured hair. The suave professionals line is chock full of three dollar products that I am stoked about. Damage Control is in my shower now and I'm loving it so far, review to follow!

Lady Gaga

Dave got me a ticket to see Lady Gaga next week as an early Christmas present!!! If your not familiar, watch a couple of her videos. LOVE LOVE LOVE her.

The ladies I'm going with are dressing for the concert, so I'm trying to come up with Gaga style... Today I'm altering a dress I own. Hopefully it works so I can spend more on accessories. Her fashion is fearless and I'm a bit intimidated trying to create something.

Turkey Loaf and Chunky Potatoes

Dave and I have gained some weight over the last year and we are trying to make better decisions on what we eat. Last night we tried ground turkey instead of ground beef.

Begin Potatoes by bringing large pot of water to boil and add potatoes. While potatoes boil prep turkey loaf:

3lbs ground turkey ($1.99/lb)
2tbsp ketchup
1tbsp Guilden's brown mustard
1tsp horseradish sauce
1tsp wasabi mustard
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1 small onion chopped

Pour all ingredients in large bowl and mix with clean hands until well blended. Place in baking dish and form into loaf shape (once I did heart shaped for valentines day and per Dave's request have even made a penis shape before). Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or so.

3lbs potatoes
2tbsp chopped onion
1 stick of butter
1cup skim milk
salt
pepper

While loaf is cooking prepare potatoes. They are ready to come off the stove if you poke one with a fork and it starts to fall apart. We like the skins on for the vitamins. Also you don't have to burn your hands trying to peel hot potatoes.

I love onions so i kept a couple of tablespoons of onion aside and chopped finely with my food processor. Add half the stick of softened butter to onion in processor and combine. Put onion mixture, other the rest of the butter, milk and potatoes in large bowl.

Normal people have either a hand masher or an electric mixer. I don't have the hand masher and my mixer broke a couple of months ago and this is the first time I had use for one. Dave and I took turns with a normal fork, hence the "Chunky Potatoes." Salt and Pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Free Entertainment

This is more bragging than suggestion. I am a Dallas Cowboys Football Fan. This season I worked every Sunday and between keeping up with the house and my friends and family I sadly have not been able to follow closely.

Dave's best friend Sam is a season ticket holder for the Philadelphia Eagles, the supposed home team. Sam called on Wednesday and offered us hit other two tickets to the Dallas v. Eagles game (he has four).

Yesterday magic happened and dreams came true as we sat in the first row of the second level on the 43rd yard line. My happy Cowboys won and are now #1 in the division!!!

Thanks again to Sam and Stef. Everyone needs friends like them!

Recessionista fashions for the severe budget

Old Navy and Gap sale racks.

• Cream wool/poly blend sweater $15 Gap after christmas sale rack (last year)
• Red wraparound sweater with tie $10 Old Navy after Christmas sale rack (last year)
  
• Carmel wool long button down cardigan with tie $15 Gap after Christmas sale rack (last year)

Your prime shopping time is coming up. After Christmas the sale racks are swollen with returns at severe discounts. Old navy always has "business casual" for ten dollars or less in January. Pants, sweaters, button down shirts. I can refill a wardrobe for $150 at Old Navy this time of year.

The Gap is also a great sale spot. Christmas returns are marked down to pennies on the dollar. My favorite cream sweater gets worn twice a week minimum and I got it at a steal.

T arget.com is also amazing. I bought $50 in clearance items from the website and got free shipping. Shirts for three dollars, dresses for seven, and a wrap sweater for under ten dollars.

Shop late. save early.

45$ window treatments

Two white panels $5 each, two red panels $5 each, rod $11, tiebacks $10. Target seems to have bette quality than Walmart and surprisingly lower cost. The red accents in my neutral colored living room really gave new life to our used furniture. The tan love seat, black recliner and black lacquer panther table got a breath of fresh air against our gray walls.

We plan on replacing the seating and have an amazing micro suede sectional picked out, but other obligations have offset our plans.

Dave's uncle Ray and his Fiancee Amy (sp?) donated an oriental rug that is not pictured. She hoped it would match her vibrant red couch, but it perfectly matched our wine colored sheers (which they didn't know). It has grey, tan, and other great colors that perfectly compliment what we have. Thanks again for another amazing freebie.

Grandmom's secret to stain removal

Soak immediately in cold water. If your not home and cant take the article of clothing off, dab generously with a wet paper towel and make a nice big wet spot. Even if your stain is still visible when it dries, the cold water stops it from setting in so when you wash it comes right out.

Warning, if your a woman in a white t-shirt maybe be more spot specific. This isn't a wet t-shirt contest. Last week at work I got a little too close for comfort...